Control device for alpha machine



c. R. BLocKslDGE 1,922,522

CONTROL DEVICE FOR A MACHINE Aug. 15, 1933.

Filed DeC. 26, 1931 :nl en Y1 l\ 75g/WW Inventor:

Charles R. BlocKsdge bym' His Attorneys Patented ug. 15, 1933 f uNlrlmv` STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL DEVICE FOR. A MACHINE poration of New York f Application December 26, 1931 Serial No. 583,321

9 Claims.

My invention more particularly relates to a control device with associated means for nor.-

piece, he is prone, in order to gain time, to use one hand to actuate the control mechanism for starting the machine and, at

the same time,

to use ythe other hand in feeding material to the machine.

For example, in the paper making industry, operators are accustomed to actuate the Vcontrol mechanismpwith one hand, and at the same time place the paper in position to be fed into the machine with theother hand, with the result that the ngers of the operator are likely to be caught between the rolls which results not only in injury to the operator the operation of the machine.

but in crippling It has been proposedto overcome the foregoing `difficulty by the use of two manually operable handles intended to re quire the use of both hands in order to start the machine. With such devices, however, it has the operator will actuate the been found that one handle and operator in order tostart 4 the machine.

operation of the My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment and in which- Fig. 1 is a front view of a controlV device embodying myA invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view oi lthe control device taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar tov Fig. 2

taken at right angles thereto;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3

illustrating the parts in the position where the locking means` `which normally prevents movement of the control device have and y been withdrawn;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 illus-A trating the parts in a different position from those shown in Fig. 4.

Like reference,characterscindicate like parts throughout the drawing.

Referring *nowA toA the draw ing, 10 Y indicates generally a control device embodying my invention mounted, in the embodiment illustrated, in openingsA 11 in standards 12 which are in turn secured to a frame'13 which may or may not constitute a part of the associated machine.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, the device 10 is pivotally connected as at 14 to a control element 15which is in turn pivotally mounted, as at 16, on the frame 13. The lower end of the element 15 engages one element 17 of.V a clutch mechanism which, in order to start the operation oi' the machine, must be moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. l, and engage the complementary clutch element 18. While I have illustrated my invention in `connection with a clutch for starting the operation of the machine, ift-will, of course, be obvious that it is equally applicable to the operation of an electric switchl for starting the operation of a machine, for actuating a valve for starting an engine, or for any other suitable control. Y

Normally, the movement of the element 10 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, is prevented by a latch or lock 19 which projects downwardly therefromv and'engages a lug 20 secured on the standard 12. In orderl'to release this latch or lock and enable the operator to move the mein# ber 10 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, it is necessary for the operator to grasp two manually operable members with his respective hands in a manner that will now be described.

Referring, now more particularly to Figs; 2 to 5, the control device indicated generally at 10, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises an inner hollow telescoping member 21 and anv outer hollow telescoping member 22 which are relatively movable in orderl to release the latch 19 and which are jointly movable'in a direction to actuate the control element for starting the operation of tlie'machine; that is to say, after the latch orA lock has been withdrawn in response to the relative movement of the two members, the two members are then jointly Y moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, in order to actuate the control element 15. Two spaced members 23 and a member indicatedl generally at 24, are secured to theY inner telescoping member 21uand the outer telescoping member 22, respectively, as by pins 25 and 26, the latter passing through oppositely Vdisposed .openings 27 in the wall of the inner telescoping member 21. TheY member 24 is preferably somewhat elongated as illustrated and comprises a head 28 connected to `a head 29 by a contracted portion 30. l l

The end of the member 29 is preferably forked as at 31 to receive one portion 32 of a locking member 33, which preferably in the form of a plate, the portion 32 being provided with a recess 34 in which is received a pin 35 secured to the branches of the forked end 31. The locking member 33 is pivotally mounted as at 36 on a head 37 which is received in the inner telescoping member 21 and which may, if desired, haveY a loose t therein bythe provision of opposite slots 38 in the inner telescoping,` member in which afpin 39 passing through the head 37 is received.

A compression spring 40 is interposed between the heads 23 and 28, and normally moves the head 28 away from the member 23 until the pin 26 occupies a position at the rightV hand end of the slots 2'7, as viewed in Fig. 2. The member 2e is thereby moved to its extreme posi,- tion to the right and the pin 35 rotates the locking member 33 about the pivot 36 and thereby causes the locking member 33 to eX- tend through an opening 41 in the tubular telescoping member 2l and engage thevlug 20. If

an attempt is madeto move .the two manually operable members comprising the control device v1()` to the right, as viewed in the drawing, the locking member 33 engages the lug 2). 'In' order to release the locking member 33, itisnecessary for theV operator to grasp the two' telescoping-members 21 and 22 with the respective hands, and move his two hands which are grasping the respective elements towards each other; in other words, the inner telescoping member 21 must be moved to the left -with respect to the outer telescoping member 22, vas viewed inV Fig. 2. -The spring 40 is thereby compressed, the pin S75-rocks the'locking member 33V anticlockwise about the pivot `36 and *withdraws thelocking member into the inner. telescoping member 21 to the position indicated in Fig. 4. Then the operator, while still'retaini'ng his Agrasp on the separate manually Hoperable members, may move them jointlyV tothe right, as viewed in Fig. 1, so that thecontrol element 15 isactuatedV in a direction to close the clutch and start' the operation of the machine.

VThe lower edge or" the locking vmember 33 is preferably beveled at 42 so that in the event i the locking member is' moved to a position beclude the operator taking hold of the extreme end of the outer telescoping member 22 and the inner member with one hand and thereby bringingabout thefoperation with a single hand.

While I have. describedy my invention in its preferred. embodiments it is to be understood that Ythe words which I have used are words of descriptionr and not of limitation `and 'that' changes ywithin thescope of. the appended claims maybe made without departing from the true f scope and. spirit of myk invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, a control element ier a machine, two manually operable members jointly movable in one direction for actuating said element, means for normally preventing the joint movement of said members in said direction, said members being relatively movable, and associated means normally inaccessible to the operator and responsive to the relative movement'of said members forv releasing said means.

2. Inv a device of the character described, a control element for a machine, two manually op'- erable members jointly movable inv one direction for lactuating said element, means for normally preventing the joint movement of said members in said direction, said members being relatively movable, yielding means normally resisting the movement of said members, and means normally inaccessible tothe operator and responsive to theI relative movement of said members for releasing said means.

3. In a device of the character described, anelementfcr controlling the operation of a ma-y chine, two manually voperable members connected together and jointlyV and relatively movable, and associated means normally inaccessible to the operator and responsive only tothe relative and joint movements of said members for actuating said element.

4. In a device of the character described, an element for controlling the operation ofa machine, two manually operable relatively movable members connected together, one of said mem-V bers being operatively connected to said element, means for normally locking said last mentioned member vagainst movement in a direction to actuate said element, and associated means normally inaccessible to the operatorl and lresponsive to the relative movement of said members for releasing said locking means.V

5. In a device for controlling the Voperation of a machine, two manually operable telescoping members jointly movable in one directionY to start the operation of the machine, locking means normally preventingl movement of saidy movement thereof for releasing said lockingY '7. In a device of theA character described, an element for controlling the operation of a machine, two manually operable telescoping members jointly and relatively movable, means responsive/to the joint movement of said members foractuating said element, a latch projectingY through one of said members for normally pre` venting the joint movement of said members and associated meansV housed Within said mem- Y bers and responsive to the relative movement thereof for withdrawing said latch within the associated member. j

8*.'In a device of the character described, a

`operable hollow telescoping members for actuating said control, two spaced devicesv located inthe respective members, one of said devices being xedly attached to the associated member, and the other device being attached to the other member with a lost motion, yielding means for normally forcing said devices apart, a latch for normally preventing sufficient movement of said members to actuate said control, and means responsive to the relative movement of said devices for releasing said latch.

CHARLES R. BLOCKSIDGE. 

